Tesla Drivers Turning to Diesel Might Be 2025’s Most Unexpected Plot Twist. Shutterstock
Once once considered the embodiment of the electric future, Tesla now sees a handful of its most steadfast owners going backward - literally. Recent research found that nearly 3% of prior Tesla owners are switching to diesel vehicles. Not hybrids: diesel. What's the reason? A combination of old model cars, promises unkept, and the toxic brand image of its own CEO.
The Model 3 and Y have aged significantly, and while companies like BMW and Hyundai continue to innovate, Tesla can coast on minor tweaks. And to make matters worse, Elon Musk's continuous political rants and culture war crusades are turning away previous owners who simply wanted a well designed, reliable EV, not a front row seat to a tech bro meltdown.
It's no accident that some former Cybertruck owners have jumped back into diesel trucks. Folks were counting on a drastic change, and wow, did they get a meme. While Tesla still boasts of buyers, the company no longer has the unstoppable momentum it once had.
The electric transition isn't failing, Musk is just doing everything he can to make it hard to love. And for some, that's a good enough reason to walk away, especially if it means going backwards to fossil fuels.
References:
https://www.spglobal.com/automotive-insights/en/blogs/2025/09/tesla-brand-loyalty-evolving-ev-market